“Missing?”
Tyler Lynn’s brow tightened. Only then did he notice how many people were packed into the lab. More than half were Soren’s guards—humans and robots alike. Gunnar, the only survivor of the Six Demon Kings, was there as well. A few people in white lab uniforms—Barnett’s assistants—were being questioned.
Barnett’s lab had long been marked off-limits. It was filled with human specimens from generations of experiments: dried, branch-thin bodies with unmistakable animal traits, as if someone had tried to smash through the barrier between species. Even under bright lights, the place felt oppressive and wrong.
Tyler Lynn swept his gaze across the room. “How long has he been missing?”
“At least twenty hours,” Soren said.
“Who saw him last?”
“More than one person. That whole group.” Soren pointed at the cluster of assistants. “Barnett left the lab at nine last night. He took an assistant with him—someone named Josie.”
“Where was he going?”
“To the Level 211 medical ward. He was performing brainwave rehabilitation therapy on Graham. He’s done it three times already. Two nights ago he swore that two more sessions would wake Graham up.” Soren’s mouth twisted. “But guess what happened?”
“What?”
“They never reached Level 211.” Soren’s voice dropped. “An hour ago, Resource Recovery found pieces of Josie’s body in the waste chute. The shredder cut him into scraps. And Barnett…”
Soren stared at Tyler Lynn with naked fear. “He vanished. Just… disappeared into thin air.”
“Did you check the security feeds?”
“We did. Nothing. It’s terrifying.”
Tyler Lynn’s expression stayed controlled. “Could he have defected? Did he kill Josie?”
“Impossible,” Soren said immediately. “I’d defect before he would—assuming he hasn’t gone insane. And Little White wouldn’t forgive a betrayal like that. She’d chop him up finer than the shredder ever could.”
“Then what are you saying?”
“This was a premeditated assassination.” Soren’s fear was so sharp that sweat beaded on his nose. He kept glancing around, as if the grotesque specimens might lurch to life. Then he leaned toward Tyler Lynn and hissed, teeth clenched. “I think a viper has slipped into Edean. Tyler Lynn, I want you to get to the bottom of this—fast. And find Barnett. Dead or alive.”
“But with Edean’s security, it shouldn’t be possible for an enemy to get inside,” Tyler Lynn said.
“Anything is possible,” Soren snapped. “You taught me that.”
Tyler Lynn lowered his head slightly. “Understood, Lord Soren. I’ll start immediately.”
“Report the moment you learn anything. And check for anything we missed.” Soren’s gaze sharpened. “Also—take more guards. Have you forgotten what happened last time? Don’t wander around alone again.”
“Yes, Lord Soren.”
Soren nodded. With Gunnar and more than thirty guards clustered around him, he left the lab and headed back toward his office.
For the entire walk, Soren moved like a man expecting a knife between his ribs. Even with that many guards, every elevator stop, every mechanical click and groan, made his skin crawl.
When he finally reached his office floor, he loosened up—slightly.
In the reception area outside his office, a middle-aged man in a Glimmer Guard uniform was already waiting. He jumped up the moment Soren arrived and saluted.
Soren recognized him: Teresa, the newly appointed Glimmer Guard Commander.
Teresa had once served as Chabu’s deputy. During Phantom Forge’s assault on Edean, he had led the Glimmer Guard and fought to the last line—one of the few senior officers who survived. Afterward, he’d been granted more authority, assisting Chabu with the defense of the Aurora Plateau.
But less than a month later, a major security disaster struck. Morag was rescued, a base was destroyed, and Tyler Lynn nearly died. Graham flew into a rage. Chabu was demoted to a squad leader.
And Teresa became the highest commander of the Glimmer Guard.
“Ah, Teresa,” Soren said as he rolled up. “I was about to summon you anyway. Come in.”
Soren wheeled himself behind his enormous desk. Most of the guards stayed outside, but Gunnar and several human bodyguards followed him in.
Teresa caught the way those human guards stared—hard, hostile, unified. Disgust rose in his throat. His already stern expression tightened further.
Soren didn’t wait for Teresa to speak. “There may be an enemy inside Edean Tower.”
“That’s impossible,” Teresa said flatly. “There’s a sentry post every fifty meters around the Glimmer Caverns. Hundreds of robot squads patrol constantly. Recon drones in the sky run nonstop. Edean itself is sealed behind layer after layer of checkpoints. We’ve simulated it—something the size of a recon ball shouldn’t be able to slip through.”
“And yet I believe an assassin is already inside this tower.” Soren summarized Barnett’s disappearance. By the end, Teresa’s disbelief was unmistakable.
“That’s… possible?”
“I want you to search every floor of Edean Tower,” Soren said. “Every corner. Leave nothing unchecked.”
“Understood, Lord Soren.”
“Good.” Soren watched Teresa remain standing, his face heavy. “Anything else?”
“Yes,” Teresa said. “I’d like to speak with you privately.”
“Speak. There are no outsiders here.”
A short silence stretched.
“Lord Soren,” Teresa said at last. “I recommend we suspend the soldier enhancement procedure.”
“Why?”
“The side effects are severe,” Teresa said. “They’re becoming… less human.”
“Explain.”
“I’ve a subordinate named Morris,” Teresa said. “He used to be a decent, simple man. But less than two weeks after his enhancement, he became cold-blooded. Yesterday, a man named Gavin—another soldier under my command—said a few things that sounded… doubtful. When I questioned him, Morris shot him on the spot.”
“Morris and Gavin had been friends for years,” Teresa continued, voice tight. “Afterward, Morris acted as if nothing happened. When I tried to arrest him, he reacted with outrage—as if I were the enemy.”
“I’m curious,” Soren said. “What exactly did this ‘Gavin’ say?”
Teresa hesitated. “He said… Julian isn’t necessarily evil. Graham isn’t necessarily right. And Plando can make mistakes too. I didn’t hear it directly—someone repeated it to me—but that was the gist.”
“Oh.” Soren shrugged. “That doesn’t sound as serious as you’re making it.”
Teresa’s eyes widened. “Lord Soren—don’t you see how absurd that’s? Even if Gavin was wrong, it should’ve been my responsibility to deal with him. What right did Morris have to execute a teammate?”
“Teresa, I understand,” Soren said, sounding almost patient. “Morris went too far. But humanity is facing a crisis. We’re fighting not only Julian’s remnants, but also Miller’s monster legion. People with iron will and courage are exactly what we need right now.”
“But we’re humans,” Teresa shot back. “Not robots. No matter the reason, nothing should stand above basic human decency.”
“I said we’re in extraordinary times.” Soren’s brows knitted, impatience flashing. “I’m sick of traitors. We need extreme measures.”
A long silence.
Finally Soren said, “Anything else? I’m drowning in work. Graham’s situation is on my shoulders, and Ogen is waiting to brief me about Wyatt’s raid on the southern seas.”
Teresa’s gaze drifted to the human guards standing behind Soren. They were Soren’s soldiers—men who used to tremble if they had to meet his eyes. Now two of them stared at Teresa with raw hostility, as if he were the traitor.
Teresa exhaled slowly. “Forgive me, sir. I only know how to command normal human soldiers. I haven’t learned how to manage ‘supermen.’”
He stepped forward, unclipped the Glimmer Guard badge from his chest, and set it on Soren’s desk.
Then he walked out without looking back.